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13 December 2021, 11:52

Igor Karpenko appointed head of Belarus' Central Election Commission

MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has appointed Igor Karpenko, former Education Minister, as Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Belarus on 13 December, BelTA has learned.

Igor Karpenko was recommended to this position by Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko.

“As for the Central Election Commission, Igor Vasilyevich understands perfectly well that if the people support the proposed Constitution (changes to the Constitution), most likely, your candidacy will still be submitted to the Belarusian People's Congress for approval. Secondly, we are still to face difficult times, starting with the referendum. You are an experienced person, and you know what these election campaigns are like. Then for the first time in our history we will elect our councils and the parliament, the legislative body, on a single voting day. And then, of course, there will be the presidential election: it may seem far away, but it is not that far. Everything will depend on the situation in our country,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“We can say that you will literally have to leap out of a frying-pan into the fire. Most likely you will be the first chairman of the CEC to be elected by the Belarusian People's Congress if the people support the new Constitution,” the president said.

In his words, the draft Constitution provides for certain changes so that the election process would be more independent and so that people would not have any suspicions that the executive power or the head of state press on the election process via CEC and the territorial election commissions.

“This is a very responsible post in the country. By proposing such changes to the Constitution regarding the CEC, we are raising the role of the Central Election Commission. I reiterate: you are a highly-qualified specialist. You have directly participated in the recent elections. I really expect that you will do well at this responsible job,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the need for a very careful approach to selecting a candidate for the vacant key post of Education Minister. “This job will not go anywhere from you. We are also waiting for proposals on the new minister from you. As for the Education Ministry, you will have to deal with this kind of work until the new minister gets into the swing of things. Let us be frank, as CEC chairman you will have little time to be involved in the education system. Do not forget about that,” the president said to Igor Karpenko.

Lidia Yermoshina has chaired the CEC since 1996. Prior to her appointment to the post she was a member of the CEC.

Igor Karpenko was born in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, the Russian Federation in 1964. He graduated from the Minsk State Pedagogical University named after A.M.Gorky in 1989, and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus in 2008.

From 1982 to 1984, he served in the Soviet Army in Chekhov District, Moscow Oblast.

From 1989 to 1993, he was secretary of the Komsomol committee, head of education department of the Minsk State Pedagogical Institute.

From 1993 to 1995 he was head of the Educational Work Department of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University. From 1995 to 2001 he was head of the Educational Work Office, head of the Educational Work Department of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maksim Tank. In 2001-2003 he was Head of Educational Work Department of Belarusian State Pedagogical University, in 2003-2004 he was Vice-Rector for Educational and Social Work.

From 2004 to 2008 he was a member of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Healthcare, Physical Education, Family and Youth Affairs.

From 2008 to 2011 he was Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Affairs and Relations with CIS of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.

In 2011-2016, he was Minsk vice mayor. In December 2016, he was appointed Education Minister.

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